HYDERABAD: Bright white marquee tent replaced the shabby and isolated shamiana at University of Hyderabad's shopping complex on Friday evening. Green carpets were spread, spot lights were fixed at a number of places at the protest venue,heavy Policemen were deployed. The reason: message was spread by evening about the arrival of Congress scion Rahul Gandhi joining the protesting students in the campus.
The politics over Rohith Vemula's death is far from over. The JAC seeking Social Justice for Rohith vemula had planned candle light vigil on Friday mid-night, and and mass hunger strike on Saturday which also marks Rohith's 26th birthday.
Students have also prepared a clay bust statue of Rohith at the very protest venue, to be unveiled on Saturday.
Rohith's mother Radhika arrived at the protest site at 11 p.m. of Friday as part of the nation wide call for candle light vigil to mark Rohith's birthday. Clearly, the message was that no one was waiting for Rahul Gandhi.
Gandhi was initially learnt to arrive at around 8.30 p.m. Then it was told by a section of students that the Congress vice president would arrive at 11.30 p.m . A few students pointed out that Gandhi after spending night with protesting students would join them on hunger strike on Saturday before returning to Delhi by afternoon.
Anger was another emotion that was brimming amongst students who wondered the real motive behind Gandhi's second visit to University of Hyderabad in the last ten-days. “We don't want any politics over Rohith Vemula's death. Rahul's visit tonight appears to benefit him more than anyone else,” said student.
“The JAC will stick with its own plan to go on mass hunger strike on Saturday. We are welcoming any politician who expresses solidarity with our movement,” said Aprita Jaya, PhD scholar, and the JAC member.
It is also learnt that JAC members were unaware of Rahul's visit till late Friday afternoon. Whereas, Rahul aides are said to be in touch with a section of students here and made all the arrangements.
The JAC has started a post card campaign on Friday where over thousand postcards with message would be sent to President of India Pranab Mukherjee.